The way Derek and Hadi were stepping over the line and constantly inching closer and closer to the judges forward was ridiculous. Even in the middle of hitting a pose they'd move their feet another inch or two forward.
The line is there to create an even playing field. It's there to prevent competitors from cheating and creating an illusion of being bigger than they really are. Behind the line is considered in bounds. On the line or in front of the line is considered out of bounds.
Why doesn't the IFBB have a referee enforcing this rule, the way rules are enforced in every other sport? Instead, the judges wait until the competitors are 8-10 ft in front of the line before Steve blows his top and yells at the competitors to get back behind the line - but not before multiple comparisons have already been made in front of the line with competitors inching their way in front of others.
Is it so difficult to enforce one single rule? How difficult is it to have a fixed video camera positioned at the side of the stage, or overhead, showing the line and the competitors standing behind it. This angle can be shown in a small section of the live stream (top left, top right, wherever).
Assign an IFBB official to sit at the judge's table and watch the line video during comparisons. If a competitor's toes touch or cross the line, he immediately tells the head judge.The head judge can watch the video replay should he desire, and if confirmed, he gives that competitor one warning. If it happens again, that competitor is disqualified.
How hard is it for competitors to make sure they don't touch the line? Prior to each pose, they glance down for a second to make sure their feet are behind the line. This won't take away from their stage presentation because they're not hitting the pose yet. They will all be doing the same thing at the same time, so the judges and fans will realize that they are making sure they are following the rule and standing behind the line. Makes for a fair competition by preventing cheating. It's just one rule. Not that difficult to enforce.
The current IFBB promoters and officials have turned bodybuilding into a circus show. Instead of highlighting the bodybuilders and their physiques with the best possible lighting and background (like the old IFBB promoters and officials did for 50 years), they have successfully done everything possible to distract from the physiques.
Imagine dieting 20 weeks to prepare for the super bowl of bodybuilding, trying to show as much physique detail as possible, and being forced to pose on a stage of backlighting, lasers, strobes, fire, and the newest introduction this year… smoke/fog.
The unfortunate and sad truth is that the Mr. Olympia competition is no longer held with the priority placed on the pro bodybuilders with regards to fair judging, or highlighting their physiques. Nor is the priority placed on the fans. The priority is placed on the sponsors. The more money they make from sponsors, the more money goes into the promoters pockets.
Unless this changes back to the way it used to be, expect to continue watching an annual circus show instead of a professional bodybuilding competition. They might consider renaming the IFBB to the International Federation of Barnum & Bailey.
